DOD announces retroactive stop-loss special pay

The Defense Department announced on Friday it plans to provide special pay to certain service members.

Active, reserve and former service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to stop-loss are eligible. However, they must have served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009.

The timeline for submitting claims is Oct. 21, 2009 through Oct. 21, 2010. Those who qualify will receive $500/month for each month (or any portion of a month) they were retained on active duty due to stop-loss.

The following applicants may only receive payment from one stop- loss authority: those who are no longer in the military, were honorably discharged or were stop-lossed in fiscal 2009. They must choose between the money appropriated for stop-loss special pay in the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 or the funds allocated for the same purpose in the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act.

Along with the claim, applicants must provide documented proof they were stop-lossed. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.

Information on how to contact each of the services is listed below:

Army: Go to https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil or email RetroStopLossPay@CONUS.Army.Mil

Navy: Email NXAG_N132C@navy.mil

Marine Corps: Go to https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss or email stoploss@usmc.mil

Air Force: Go to http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss/